No fun in law-making forum

No fun in law-making forum

JAKARTA (JP): Two subdistrict chiefs from Bekasi are in hot
water after they were caught arm wrestling while attending a
plenary meeting of the regency legislative council Tuesday.

Sindang Jaya chief Sundan Jasan and Lambangsari chief Marsan
N. are facing disciplinary measures because councilors considered
them to be acting disrespectful during the region's law-making
forum.

The regency invited the low-level bureaucrats to attend the
meeting with the intention of showing them the regional policy-
making process, Antara reported.

Instead of earnestly listening to political speeches, the two
fought boredom by telling jokes and arm wrestling in the
convention hall's balcony.

Bekasi regency secretary Adang Bachtiar and council speaker
Wikanda D. took the matter seriously and said the subdistrict
chiefs should be reprimanded.

"I regret the incident," Wikanda said. "One needs to follow a
council hearing seriously."

Suparman, a councilor from the Armed Forces faction, was
outraged and said that joking around while attending a council
hearing was "both undisciplined and unethical".

The report did not say who emerged as the winner in the
controversial arm wrestling contest. (pan)